SMARTPHONE FILMMAKING Dylan Shields, Assistant Professor, Cinema/TV Los Angeles City College [email protected] or [email protected] “Film will only become an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.” - Jean Cocteau The ARRI ALEXA SXT Studio Rental Rates: $2,800/daily $8,400/weekly Not including lenses, add- ons and accessories Source: Radiant Images • Super 35mm format; maximum recordable resolution is bigger than traditional 65mm film • Frame rates up to 120 fps; latitude of 14 stops • Cinematographers say the tonal range, color space and latitude exceed the capabilities of film Anamorphic film format – Lawrence of Arabia Anamorphic film format – Rebel Without a Cause Anamorphic film format – The Wild Bunch Anamorphic film format – Manhattan Anamorphic Format / Cinemascope Shooting a widescreen picture on standard 35 mm film or other visual recording media with a non-widescreen native aspect ratio The Robe (1953) was the first feature film released that was filmed with an anamorphic lens. How can a student achieve this? + Apple iPhone Moondog Labs Anamorphic Adapter $175 Tangerine (2015) – shot on iPhone 5s with the Moondog Lab Anamorphic Lens Adapter Sound was recorded separately and synced in post The Steadicam Smoothee Stabilizer Lightweight, compact & versatile $149 FILMic Pro – the ‘Gold Standard’ App for filmmaking • Full manual control over: • Focus • Exposure • ISO • Shutter • Speed • Tint • Color temperature • Audio meters • Stereo Mic Support • Supports all major aspect ratios $14.99 Beat the $5,000 Sony FS100 and tied the $13,000 Canon C300 in blind audience testing Zoom iQ Professional Stereo Microphone Compact yet full-featured mid- side stereo condenser mic $99.99 Sennheiser KA 600i XLR to Mini Connection Cable Achieve professional-quality audio for videos produced with smartphones $19.95 Use this to record with standard microphones (shotguns, booms, lavs, etc.) Have access to three iPhones? Perhaps record picture with two and sound with one Mophie Juice Pack Reserve Smart Battery Case Compact battery backup Thin, lightweight design that provides power, reliability and protection $59.95 DSLR, Telescope & Microscope Lenses Underrepresentation in the Film/TV Industry Source: DGA & UCLA Diversity studies The Proliferation of Smartphones • As of July, 2015, over two-thirds of American adults (68%) own a smartphone – Up from 35% from 2011 • 86% of 18-29 year-olds own a smartphone • 83% of 30-49 year-olds own a smartphone • 87% of those living in households earning $75,000 and up annually own a smartphone • Today on average, children are getting their first smartphones around age 10 • Down from age 12 in 2012 Source: Pew Research Center, 2015 & Influence Central, 2016 Increased capabilities of the iPhone 7 • 12-megapixel camera (dual wide-angle and telephoto lenses on the 7 Plus) • f/1.8 aperture • 4K video recording (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps • 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps • Optical image stabilization • Optical zoom at 2x; 6x digital zoom (iPhone 7 Plus only) • Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps • Time-lapse video with stabilization • Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p) • Continuous autofocus video • Body and face detection • Panorama (up to 63 megapixels) • Improved noise reduction • Exposure control • Noise reduction • Burst mode • Hybrid IR filter • Continuous autofocus video • Photo geotagging Smartphone Add-Ons & Accessories • Cases • Lenses • Audio • Stabilizers • Steadicam • Sliders • Lights • Remote Controls • Memory Options Movies Shot on Smartphones • Tangerine (2015) • And Uneasy Lies the Mind (2014) • Searching for Sugar Man (2012) • Night Fishing (iPhone 4; 2011) • This is Not a Film (2011) • Framed (short; 2011) Apps for Filmmakers: Screenwriting • Celtx Script – Work anytime from anywhere; share scripts with your team • Final Draft Writer – Brings Final Draft to your smartphone • Fade In Mobile – For use with Fade In software; works well with Dropbox • Index Card – Organize thoughts using index cards; no more misplacing • Scripts Pro – Imports, exports and preserves formatting from any software • Storyist – Sketch out a story using index cards • Weekend Read – A screenplay reading app with choices of fonts and sizes Source: Indiewire Apps for Filmmakers: Preproduction & Production • FilmTouch – Keep track of call sheets and search names, jobs, etc. • MapAPic – Location scouting, organization and management app; sunrise & sunset times • Shot Designer – Create camera diagrams, animate characters, design lighting • Shotlister – Update/change shots in real time, storyboard images, tells you if you’re ahead, behind or on schedule, export projects • ShotPro – Pre-visualize scenes with 3D sets, animatable characters, adjust facial features, add props, multiple cameras, weather effects • Safety App by ICG – Report unsafe working conditions on sets anonymously • Storyboard Composer – Storyboard shots and add movements (dolly, track, zoom, pan) Source: Indiewire Apps for Filmmakers: Cinematography • FiLMiC Pro – Control exposure, focus, zoom, shutter, frame rates, audio • DSLR Slate – Allows you to input detailed information (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc.) • Switcher Studio – A video ‘switching’ tool; sync up to four devices, record final mixed video and stream a live video feed • Sun Surveyor – Know the position of the sun and moon for any given time and place; with 3D compass, maps and street view • Cine Meter II – Acts as a light meter; can set shutter angle & filters • Cinescope – Compose and shoot in any aspect ratio • Artemis – A director’s viewfinder app Source: Indiewire Apps for Filmmakers: Editing • iMovie • PowerDirector • Pinnacle Studio Pro • Kinemaster • Movie Edit Touch • Replay • Clips • Splice • Adobe’s Premiere Clip • Magistro Source: Indiewire Distribution In Addition to: • Social Media Will traditional studios get involved? • Live Streaming How will financing sources and models change? • Film Festivals Legal Issues The same legal issues that affect conventional films also apply to movies shot on smart phones: – Photo / Appearance Releases – Location Releases – Soundtrack – Stills and Images – Artwork – Product / Name / Logo – Film / Video – Name & Likeness Release – Services Agreements for Key Personnel • Public Domain – Generally 70 years after the death of the creator • Fair Use – News reporting, criticism, comment, research, teaching, parody • Know Your State’s Hidden Camera & Wiretapping Laws Thank You!.